A Case of α-Gal-Unrelated Red Meat-Induced Urticaria Treated by Omalizumab

A 70-year-old healthy woman was referred to our hospital for chronic urticaria. She did not have a history of allergy, asthma, and rhinitis. She was initially diagnosed with α-gal-related urticaria based on an episode of delayed-type urticaria after eating red meat. The results of the intracutaneous allergen test for beef and pork were negative. Fluorenzyme immunoassays specific for IgE against α-gal, beef, and pork were also negative. She was diagnosed with an α-gal-unrelated red meat allergy following the reproduction of urticaria by a food challenge test. The patient was unresponsive to several drugs, including antihistamines or immunosuppressants. However, omalizumab administration suppressed her symptoms. <b><i>Key Clinical Message:</i></b> The diagnosis of red meat allergy may require a repeatability test by consuming red meat even though serum α-gal IgE antibody might be negative. The α-gal-unrelated red meat urticaria may be responsive to omalizumab.

Transcriptional Profiling Uncovers Biologically Significant RNAs and Regulatory Networks in Nucleus Pulposus from Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Patients

Objective. This study aimed to uncover biologically significant RNAs in nucleus pulposus tissues of human intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) by integrated transcriptional profiling. Methods. From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, three IVDD-related microarray profiling datasets were retrieved and assessed by intragroup data repeatability test. Then, differentially expressed circRNAs, lncRNAs, mRNAs, and miRNAs were screened in nucleus pulposus tissues between IVDD and control samples via the limma package. Coexpression networks were separately conducted via weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Based on the feature RNAs in the IVDD-related modules, IVDD-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were conducted. The differentially expressed mRNAs in the two networks were analyzed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) and functional enrichment analyses. Results. By the intragroup data repeatability test, outlier samples were removed. Abnormally expressed RNAs were separately identified in nucleus pulposus between IVDD and controls. Via WGCNA, IVDD-related coexpression modules were constructed and the feature circRNAs, lncRNAs, mRNAs, and miRNAs were identified. Then, the circRNA- and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were built for IVDD. These mRNAs in the network exhibited complex interactions. Moreover, they were involved in distinct IVDD-related biological processes and pathways such as transcription, cell proliferation, TNF, TGF-β, and HIF signaling pathways. Conclusion. This study revealed biologically significant noncoding RNAs and their complex regulatory networks for IVDD.

Development of a GUI for automating quality control of dose calibrators using Python

Quality control of dose calibrators is essential to evaluate the accuracy of the instrument response. In this work, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) has been developed to facilitate performing and recording quality control tests of dose calibrators. The interface is capable to automate several tests which include routine checks, accuracy test, linearity test, reproducibility test, repeatability test, concordance MBq/mCi test, and geometry test. In principle, the program computes correction factors that should be applied to minimize the uncertainty of measurements and the determining factors for success or failure of each test, then visualizes the results as tables and curves into a pdf file. Therefore, this interface can be considered as an efficient tool for performing quality control tests of dose calibrators thought it is still unable to offer the correction factors for the geometry test without experiment which will be achieved by integrating Monte Carlo simulation into the GUI.

Synthesis of Novel Oxazolidines and Study of Its Naked Eye CO2 Detecting Properties

Herewith, we synthesized the new oxazolidines (SP-1, SP-2 and SP-3) by without using any withdrawing or donating substitution, and for these molecules we demonstrated CO2 sensing properties in naked eye condition with different colors (yellow and magenta). All the dyes showed different colors in the presence and absence of CO2 in ethanol solution with the concept of ring closing and opening. In UV-visible absorption spectrum all the compounds showed visible light absorptions after purging of CO2. To confirm this mechanism for SP-1 molecule case, we approached the 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques deuterated methanol as a solvent and we clearly identified. The stability of the SP-1 molecule in ethanol for CO2 purging case, we studied repeatability test up to ten cycles and we confirmed that there is no any decrease in sensing ability.

I-Bin: Weight Based IoT Smart Recycling Scheduler for Guarded Neighbourhood

Overpopulation and lack of awareness are the main causes of poor waste management. While existing research in waste management employs current technology such as the Internet of Things, it lacks emphasis on residential centric type of waste management system. This project designs a weight based scheduling system for a guarded neighbourhood using Arduino Uno, load cells and plastic bins which are then incorporated with WiFi to send waste weight information in real time to cloud for monitoring.Design verification tests such as the linearity test and non-repeatability test showed less than 1 percent standard deviation error. A Proof of Concept test was conducted to test the system's performance at a guarded residential area.Analysis of test showed that an average of 0.0966kg of recyclable waste was collected per house. Based on theresults also, it is predicted that approximately 483kg of waste can be effectively collected from 10 residential areas using the I-Bin system. Residents tend to dispose waste after office hours and scheduling more waste collection frequency after office hours will lead to increased revenue for the recycling company.

Ammonia concentration monitoring using Arduino

In order to evaluate the efficacy of ammonia photocatalysis, it is necessary to continuously monitor its concentration during the process. This paper presents ammonia concentration monitoring using a low cost (non-professional) electronic device. The device is based on an open source electronic platform, and it is composed of the MQ-137 ammonia detection sensor, connected to the Croduino Basic 2 board. Sensitive material of the sensor is a metal oxide (SnO2). The change in the ammonia concentration causes a change in the electrical resistance, which is measured and used for the ammonia concentration estimation. Four measurements, with ammonia concentration ranging from 0-500 ppm were performed in the controlled environment. With the purpose of the device calibration and repeatability test, along with a low-cost device, the monitoring was carried out also with a professional device, Geotech GA5000 gas analyser. Using the information provided in the sensor datasheet, together with the measured data, the measurement error of the low-cost device was assessed. After calibration, ammonia concentrations measured using a low-cost device, are consistent with those obtained from the professional device.